Press Releases

The situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the need to accommodate and protect Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war zone has mobilized our mechanisms from the very first moment.

The Ministry of Interior has accommodated Ukrainian refugees and Cyprus was the first among the Member States to do so, even before the European Commission finalized its decisions. The effectiveness of the above immediate response is also reflected in the fact that since the 25th of February when the Russian invasion began, 2935 Ukrainian citizens arrived in Cyprus without any problem arising, of whom 71 persons expressed an interest to be granted status of temporary protection and 19 persons applied for asylum.

It is therefore bewildering where the specific newspaper draws information from, when today it states in its headline article that ‘the government has not yet drafted a strategy for Ukrainian refugees’, that ‘it is observing developments in puzzlement', that it ‘does not implement the European directive’ and that ‘it does not accept Ukrainians with passports that do not have biometric features’, at a time when it allowed entry even to persons whose passports were expired or to persons only with an identity card.

For us, a nation that knows first-hand what war and being a refugee means, the provision of assistance to the people of Ukraine must be taken for granted. It is for this reason that Cyprus, first among the EU Member States, has advocated, via the Minister of Interior at the recent Council, the need to activate the temporary protection mechanism in favour of Ukrainian refugees. 

The government’s policy for managing this humanitarian crisis, for those who can see it from a clear perspective, is explicit, crystal clear and effective.

(MPO/MV)